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Appearance-focused Internet use and the thin-beauty ideal

  • Tyne Stanley
    ,
  • James Barnes
    ,
  • Emma Short
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

Websites featuring appearance-focused content are a medium for constant appearance comparisons, addiction and pressure to meet existing beauty-ideals. This study investigated a sample of 264 males and females who use appearance-focused websites, with a view to determining the relationship with appearance dissatisfaction and self-worth. Data collection involved posting links to online questionnaires on popular social networking sites. Internet appearance exposure was found to correlate with a greater drive for thinness in females, suggesting that exposure to the thin-ideal body images presented online reinforces women’s desire to achieve the cultural expectations of body shape and weight. Furthermore the study highlighted that internet addiction was associated with a drive for thinness and low self-esteem in both males and females, with differences exhibited in regards to body-esteem. These findings emphasise the need for pathological internet use to be incorporated into media literacy programs and to encourage a critical stance toward current beauty standards.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 38-50

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Studies in Media and Communication (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 02/07/2015
  • Published - 24/07/2015

Publication status

Published - 24/07/2015

ISSN

2325-8071

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/624689

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